Editing Bronchospasm (section)

{{short description|Lower respiratory tract disease that affects the airways leading into the lungs}}
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| name            = Bronchospasm
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| image           = Image:Asthma before-after-en.svg
| caption         = '''Inflamed airways and bronchoconstriction in asthma'''. Airways narrowed as a result of the inflammatory response cause wheezing.
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| field           = [[Pulmonology]]
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'''Bronchospasm''' or a '''bronchial spasm''' is a sudden [[bronchoconstriction|constriction]] of the muscles in the walls of the [[bronchiole]]s. It is caused by the release ([[degranulation]]) of substances from [[mast cells]] or [[basophil]]s under the influence of [[anaphylatoxin]]s. It causes difficulty in breathing which ranges from mild to severe.

Bronchospasms occur in [[asthma]], chronic [[bronchitis]] and [[anaphylaxis]].  Bronchospasms are a possible side effect of some drugs: [[pilocarpine]], [[beta blocker]]s (used to treat hypertension), a paradoxical result of using [[Long acting beta-adrenoceptor agonist|LABA]] drugs (to treat [[COPD]]), and other drugs.  Bronchospasms can present as a sign of [[giardiasis]].

Some factors that contribute to bronchospasm include consuming certain foods, taking certain medicines, allergic responses to insects, and fluctuating hormone levels, particularly in women.<ref name=Haggerty2003>{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/S1081-1206(10)61794-2 |pmid=12669890 |title=The impact of estrogen and progesterone on asthma |year=2003 |last1=Haggerty |first1=Catherine L. |last2=Ness |first2=Roberta B. |last3=Kelsey |first3=Sheryl |last4=Waterer |first4=Grant W. |journal=Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology |volume=90 |issue=3 |pages=284–91; quiz 291–3, 347}}</ref><ref name=Hatfield>{{cite web |author=Hatfield |title=Asthma in Women |url=http://www.webmd.com/asthma/features/asthma-women}}</ref>
Bronchospasms are one of several conditions associated with cold housing.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1080/02673030050009258 |title=Housing Deprivation and Health: A Longitudinal Analysis |year=2000 |last1=Marsh |first1=Alex |last2=Gordon |first2=David |last3=Heslop |first3=Pauline |last4=Pantazis |first4=Christina |journal=Housing Studies |volume=15 |issue=3 |pages=411|s2cid=154051241 }}</ref>

The overactivity of the bronchioles' muscle is a result of exposure to a stimulus which under normal circumstances would cause little or no response. The resulting constriction and inflammation causes a narrowing of the airways and an increase in [[mucus]] production; this reduces the amount of [[oxygen]] that is available to the individual causing breathlessness, coughing and [[hypoxia (medical)|hypoxia]].

Bronchospasms are a serious potential complication of placing a [[Tracheal tube|breathing tube]] during [[general anesthesia]]. When the airways spasm or constrict in response to the irritating stimulus of the breathing tube, it is difficult to maintain the airway and the patient can become [[apneic]]. During general anesthesia, signs of bronchospasm include wheezing, high peak inspiratory pressures, increased intrinsic [[PEEP]], decreased expiratory tidal volumes, and an upsloping capnograph (obstructive pattern).&nbsp; In severe cases, there may be complete inability to ventilate and loss of [[ETCO2]] as well as hypoxia and desaturation.